Forty-three-year-old Tom Dehaene, the son of a former Belgian prime minister, is one of the two new faces in the recently formed executive council of the Flemish-Brabant province. Crossing over from the Flemish parliament, Dehaene (CD&V) is responsible for culture, safeguarding the Flemish character of the region, housing and mobility. Dehaene is keen to offer non-native speaking newcomers to the Flemish Rand a Breughel-style, hospitable, warm-hearted, gracious and respectful welcome. ‘Cultural activities can be used to try to encourage non-native newcomers to get involved in our community, a key component of which is obviously our Dutch language.’ Eager to draw attention to the serious mobility problems in the Flemish Rand and the way this affects so many Flemish people, the province is eager to extend the bicycle path network and lobby other authorities to improve the roads and public transport system. Dehaene is calling for more attention to be paid to the need for affordable housing in the Flemish Rand as a result of creating more low-cost homes and pouring more money into the Vlabinvest investment fund. (RK, apr 2013)